Right Number, Wrong Girl

Kellie’s eyes widened. “I’ve done all their cakes since before those boys were born. I can’t imagine that Anna wouldn’t tell you it was me.”

“I actually never spoke to her until this morning.”

The older woman tilted her head. “Let me guess. You spoke to Nancy.”

Sophie nodded. “I was sent a few inspiration designs and told to find locate bakers. The bakery in town was the one I settled on based on their work.”

“And rightly so. I wouldn’t have sold Alice my bakery if I didn’t think she was good enough to take it over, and she makes some phenomenal cakes.” Kellie shrugged a shoulder. “But Anna is extremely fussy.”

“Mum and Kellie grew up together,” I added for Sophie’s benefit. “Kellie moved away for a while, but came back when Cait was about seven, which was when we became friends.”

“Oh, you’ve met Caitlyn?” Kellie smiled.

“I had dinner at the pub last night.” Sophie smiled. “So if you’re that close to the duchess, why weren’t you on my list?”

She was wording this well.

“I don’t know.” Kellie’s smile dropped, and her gaze narrowed. “Anna would never consider anyone else. We spoke about this just this week, and I was waiting for her to call me, so I know for a fact I was doing it.” She looked at me.

“I text her to ask,” I said. “Before we came over. She said it was you.”

“Interesting.” Kellie tapped her fingers against the table, and there was a tense heaviness to the air that made me glance at Sophie to see if she was all right.

This was… weird.

“Never mind that for now. I’m sure it was just a minor miscommunication.” Kellie added a brightness to her smile. “Do you have that final design for me?”

Sophie snapped out of whatever contemplative mood she was in. “Oh, I actually brought two. Both were approved, so perhaps you could choose which one you think Evelyn would like?”

“Evelyn? You’re on first name terms? She must like you.”

Sophie dipped her chin to hide a shy smile. “We have a similar view on how tea should be made.”

Oh, no.

There were two of them.

That was all the world needed.

“Ah. That makes sense.” A glimmer returned to Kellie’s eyes. “Let’s see, then.”

Sophie handed over two images from her folder, and Kellie took them.

I had no idea what was going on.

I didn’t care.

It was a cake.

It was going to taste good no matter what it looked like, so I had no horse in this race.

Their conversation was easy, and I sat quietly as Kellie made suggestions and edits to the designs and Sophie offered her input. In the end, they came up with something that was somewhere between the two original ideas, and they both seemed to be quite happy about the final product.

I was just fucking hungry now.

My stomach rumbled, and Kellie shot me a knowing look. I grinned sheepishly.

“All the food talk made me hungry,” I mumbled.